Youth Section     Teams

U16 Boys team webpage.....click

U'14 Boys webpage.............click

U'14 Girls team webpage.....click

U'11 Boys team webpage....click

U'13 Girls webpage.............click

U'12 Girls webpage.............click

3rd December..     U'16 Boys in Cork

U-16 Boys made the trip to Cork on , Saturday Dec 3rd, for the Cork Basketball Board Invitational (14 teams). They were in a Group with Limerick Lakers and Fr Mathews (Douglas).

Having travelled well, they made a brisk start against Limerick and ended the 1st Q with a 10 - 4 lead. Despite increasing their score to 29 in the 2nd Q, their lead was still only 6 points, mainly because of giving away some "soft" scores. They corrected this in the 3rd Q leading 41-29 and eventually ran out 52-31 winners

. The team and supporters then moved to the Neptune Stadium for the Group decider with Fr Matthews. This turned out to be a tough competetive match. Moycullen started well with some lovely baskets, while at the same time defending very well with a 6pts to 2 lead. However, Fr Matthews had a very strong finish to the quarter to lead 12 - 8. Despite playing very well, in both offence & defence, the 2nd Q ended with Fr Matthews having extended their lead to 8 (22-14). Moycullen continued to work very hard but luck wasn't on their side with a lot of shots just rimming out. In the end, Moycullen came up short on the scoreboard but could not be faulted in terms of their skill and workrate. As group winners, Fr Matthews progressed to Semi-Final and Moycullen's involvment ended for this year

. The team consisting of Ciaran Barber, Seán Candon, Jack Costello, Kyle Cunningham, Padraic Doran, Darragh Mulkerrins, Darren O'Donnell, Séadhna O Duibhir & Mark Rohan were a credit to Moycullen Basketball Club. As always, everything was organised by their team manager Andrew Barber.

Very special thanks to James O'Brien who very kindly stepped in to coach the lads in the absence of their normal coach, Cian Nihill, who was on Superleague duty.

November 27
All Ireland BIPPS tournament (Basketball Ireland Post Primary Schools)

Moycullen were well represented on both the boys & girls inter area schools competition held recently in the National Basketball arena in Dublin. Local players on the West Team (Galway/Mayo) were - " Joseph Tummon " Conor Egan " Jack Costelloe " Kyle Cunningham " Rory Heffernan " John Hackett " Darren O'Sullivan

The Irish coaching team were present during the two days play and selected a 20 person squad to try out for the national underage team and Kyle Cunningham - not only was selected, but has made the final 14. Well done to Kyle.

The girls West team also had Moycullen representation with Emily Molloy, Catherine Connaire and Claire Guinnane making the team coached by Martin Burke & Marie Deegan. Congratulations to all of the Moycullen youngsters on their achievement.

West U15 Boys Team

West U15 Girls Team

October 2011

Moycullen U13 Boys team that had a good win Titans in a recent game. Back row left to right: Diarmuid Mulkerrins, Cormac Power,James Lyons, Mark Convery, Thomas Hackett, Dara Heffernan. Front row left to right: Jack Mc Neela, Michael Lee, Jack Whyte and Kevin Burk

 Moycullen U14 Girls win Limerick tournament

Moycullen U14 girls got their season off to a winning start with a thrilling two point win over Fr. Matthews from Cork in the Limerick Celtics Tournament this weekend. The girls had lost earlier to the same opposition by a solitary point – having seen two shots roll around the rim in the final ten seconds of the game. They followed that up with two good wins against Glanmire and the host club Limerick Celtics with all of the squad getting on the score sheet. The return of Sorcha White to the team after the community games provide a huge boost to the team particularly under the basket as she played a captain’s part with some excellent defensive play and great scores at crucial times. In the final, Moycullen turned a one point half time deficit into a third quarter three point lead with a great offensive display. They went into the last 90 seconds with a seven point lead – only to see Fr. Matthews wipe it out with a three quick baskets. However, they girls held their nerve & the ball to edge it by a basket.

Round Robin results: Moycullen 18 Fr. Matthews 19
Moyculen 33 Limerick Celtics 24
Moycullen 31 Glanmire 16
Final: Moycullen 33 Fr.Matthews 31  

Gold and Silver for Moycullen at the National Finals

Moycullen U'16 Boys   All Ireland U16 Community Games Champions
                Click for full size image

Moycullen U'13 Girls.All Ireland Community Games Silver medal winners

Patrick Lyons played in all seven Irish team games at the European championships in Macedonia, averaging 15.3 minutes per game.Patrick was the team's third highest scorer, averaging 5.1ppg. Irish team accumulated ststistics s....click 

                                      Irish U'16 Basketball Team

Moycullen capture All Ireland U'16 title

Moycullen U '16 Boys produced a magnificent series of performances on their way to winning the All Ireland U'16 Title in Dublin at the weekend. The beat the Dublin champions Kubs 48-43 in overtime in a nailbiting final . The win caps a perfect season for the team that has seen them winning all five competitions they participated in.  In the twelve team All Ireland playoffs they set the tone right from the start with a brilliant display against Neptune in game one with all ten players playing a part in the demolition of the Cork Champions. From there on there was no let up and they outplayed hot favourites Dublin Kubs in a magnificent final. There will be a team homecoming and celebration in the Forge on Wednesday evening at 8pm and all are invited

  Youth Section Latest News

12 December

Under 14 Girls Galway League
Moycullen 45 Claregalway 24

Moycullen had a comfortable win over Claregalway in Killannin last Wednesday with an overall margin of twenty one points. Indeed the game was over as contest after the first half with the girls leading 31 – 6.

The second half was error strewn as the team struggled to keep their focus and they allowed Claregalway in for some soft scores.

A significant advantage for Moycullen was that their total was shared between seven scorers whereas Claregalway relied on just three.

The team go into the Christmas break with one more game this Friday away to Bearna in the Columban hall on Sea Road.

Squad: Áine McDonagh 5, Ailbhe Davoren, Amy Cooke 4, Catherine Connaire 18, Chloe Conroy, Kate O'Brien, Louise Hosty 2, Megan O'Donnell 8, Mollie Finn 4, Sorcha White 4, Laura Corcoran, Aisling Corcoran.

4th December

U14 Cup Girls Semi Final
Moycullen U13 36 Claregalway 46

The girls can be very proud of their display in the cup competition where they came up against a much taller and more experienced side. Claregalway led by 9 points to 5 in the first quarter but in the second quarter we did not have the height to match them and Claregalway stretched their lead. We got the match of them in the third quarter but couldn’t make any ground until the last quarter where we outscored then by 14 points to 10 points. It was a great performance by the girls. They have this cup competition to look forward to next year and hopefully will go one step further.
Squad: Áine Barber, Jean Hynes 8, Aisling Corcoran 11 , Laura Corcoran 11, Roisin Biggins, Grace Egan, Mollie Curtis, Sarah Curtis, Romy Cunnigham 6, Laoise Ni Chainte, Fiona Claffey, Maria Burke, Ruth Cunnigham

1-December-2011
U12 Girls Basketball
Moycullen 15 Titans 14
Moycullen mystic girls u 12 team played Titans on Friday night last and won 15 to Titans 14. This was the girls first win of the league so far so well done to the team. A number of the girls this year have just started playing basketball and they put in some fine gutsy performances! As the season progresses the girls will be getting stronger and will have plenty of match experience. Onwards and upwards girls, well done.

30-November
Under 14 Girls league
Moycullen 67 : Maree 21
This was a much improved showing from Moycullen after their cup defeat to Corrib as they comprehensively beat Maree in Killannin. This was a team effort with everyone playing well and contributing to the score sheet. Maree, coached by Joe Sheilds put in a solid 3rd - outscoring Moycullen but tired in the last quarter when the score developed a very lobsided look.

Next up for Paul O'Brien's charges are Claregalway in Kilannin on Wednesday 7th.

Squad: Áine McDonagh 12, Ailbhe Davoren 2, Amy Cooke 10, Catherine Connaire 14, Chloe Conroy 2, Kate O'Brien , Louise Hosty 2, Megan O'Donnell 9, Mollie Finn 8, Sorcha White 6, Laura Corcoran, Aisling Corcoran 2.

18-November
Girls U14 Cup Quarter Final
Moycullen 22 Corrib 30

The Moycullen girls came up against a more determined Corrib side who had lost the last three straight against them in Oughterard on Monday night. The game was delayed for over an hour due to a referee mix up which helped neither side. The first quarter ended all square with Moycullen surrendering a three point lead in the latter stages. The second was a very competitive affair with neither team scoring until the last twenty seconds when Moycullen failed twice from the line, conceded the rebound and two points on a fast break – also conceding a foul which Corrib duly dispatched. Moycullen failed to score a point in the third ending up eleven points in arrears. Corrib held that big lead well into the 4th before Moycullen came alive to put a better gloss on the final score.
In summary, the key statistics were Corrib scored 14 from the line and had only one player fouled out while Moycullen missed several lay-ups, scored 4 from the line, had three fouled out with another two on 4. These two will meet again in Killannin in 2012.

Moycullen captain Patrick Lyons accepting the All Ireland U'16 Community Games trophy       
Moycullen came away from the National Community Games Finals with gold and silver medals, the boys capturing the U'16 title for the first time and theU'13 girls taking the silver medals for the second year in a row.
The boys were always ahead in a hard fight final against the Munster champions from Kerry. They led by eight at the half but the Kerry team fought back and closed the gap to three points with two minutes to go. Moycullen showed great composure in the final minute to close out the game and win by four points. One of the key factors in the Moycullen win was their ability to come up with offensive rebounds, including four vital ones in the closing minutes. Their defense was also excellent, holding the two key Kerry players to a combined 14 points. and with all five Moycullen starters connecting with three pointers, they had the firepower when needed.

The girls came within a whisker of taking the gold medals, missing out by three points after overtime in a thrilling U'13 All ireland Final. They led by as much as eight points deep into the second half but ran into foul trouble which probably cost them the game. Inspirational players Aine mcDonagh and Ailbhe Davoren fouled out and although the game could still have gone either way in overtime, Moycullen just could not find the extra baskets needed to win the game.
Although bitterly disappointed not to win the final, they can be very proud of their All Ireland silver medals . And who will ever forget their unbelievable semi final win the day before, coming from what looked like a certain loss to the win that game by the narrowest of margins.

Thanks to everyone who helped prepare the teams and all who traveled to Athlone over the weekend to support. Thanks also to everyone who came out for the homecoming and the celebrations in the Forge on Sunday night.
       

Both Moycullen teams won their All Ireland Community Games semi finals on Saturday. The U'16 Boys were always in control against the Ulster Champions and won 63-36. They play the Munster Champions fromKerry in the final tomorrow at 3.30pm in the John McCormack Centre at Athlone IT

The Girls U'13 team produced an amazing comback in their semi final, overturning a thirteen point half time deficit to win by four. They had been well outplayed by a taller and more experienced Ulster team for much of the game , but showing an unbelievable fighting, managed to snatch a super win in the final seconds.

They play in the final at 3.30 on Sunday in the Bower.
Unfortunately both finals are at the same time.

Ailbhe Davoren had a super defensive game in the semi final, forcing many turnovers that led to the vital scores at the end of the game

       Community Games Connacht Finals
Moycullen U13 captain Amy Cooke accepting the Connacht trophy from Community Games representative Tony Lee

Moycullen U'16 Captain pareick Lyons accepting the Connacht trophy from tony lee

Moycullen Matters June 2011 Issue 128
Read the basketball news pages in the latest edition of the magazine...click to open the pdf file
( Adobe reader needed)

             
Henri Seux tournament in France
Moycullen U13 Boys were in France in Juned for the Henri Seux International Tournament. This is a FIBA recognised tournament and includes teams from some of Europes top clubs including Real Madrid from Spain and Kaunas of Lithuania and many other other countries with great basketball traditions including Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Poland. There were also a number of French regional teams includng Pas de Calais and Indre et Loire.

Despite facing such strong competition, Moycullen came away with two wins from their six games and could easily have won two more, losing by four to Kravavec from Slovenia and by five to the Roumanian team Targu Mures. Fine performance all round and no doubt a lot learned.
Results...................click

          
Moycullen co- captains Dylan Costello and Patrick Lyons lift the all Ireland U'16 Cup after their overtime win in the final in against Kubs

12 April
Irish Selection

Congrats to the three boys who have been selected on the Irish U'16 team. Dylan Costello, Patrick Lyons and Stephen O'Brien are on the sixteen player team which will begin intensive preparations for European Championships in Macedonia in July.    

26th March
Galway Juvenile Finals 2011......Photos

Congrats to all involved in a super day of basketball action at the Galway Juvenile League Finals at NUIG. The Galway Juvenile Board did a great job organising and running so many games from 9am through to 8pm on two courts. Moycullen contested nine finals, winning four A finals and two B finals